SUSTAINABLE HEAT AT YOUR CONTROL

Whether you are renovating or starting a new build, futureproofing your home is likely to be high on your agenda

One way your home can provide you with as much warmth and comfort as you need, and for many years to come without the need to rely on traditional fuels such as gas, oil or LPG, is via mother nature itself — harnessed, of course, by the advanced technology found in a heat pump.

Off-grid Option

Heat pumps can support and provide the renewable energy needed for an all-encompassing heating and hot water system for any sized home, and one solution popular in off-grid areas is a ground source heat pump.

A ground source heat pump (GSHP) generates heat from the constant temperature found beneath the surface of the ground. Depending on the location of your property, this can be collected via loops laid laterally in the ground adjoining the property or via a borehole. The loops collect natural heat found beneath the surface and transfer this via a fluid through to a compressor which raises the heat to an even higher temperature. The heat pump then transfers this heat into the central heating system for warmth or hot water. The cooled fluid is then passed through the loops back into the ground where it absorbs further energy in a continuous process for as long as heat is required.

This system is ideal for delivering heat through radiators and underfloor systems and offers a more constant temperature than more traditional forms of energy.

Return on your Investment

Another key benefit to using a renewable heat source such as a GSHP is the payments you will receive following its installation. The UK government’s Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) programme is aimed at supporting homeowners who take that next step. The scheme assesses how much energy saving your home will make following the installation of your heat pump and then calculates a series of monthly payments over a seven year period. In most cases these can offset the initial investment and even deliver a small profit. Current GSHP tariffs have recently seen an increase in payments from 19.64p/kwh to 19.86p/kwh. For example, a Nibe GSHP fitted in a typical four bedroom house with a total energy demand of 25,000kwh could generate annual payments of around £3,623 — which is £25,361 over the seven-year period.

In addition to this financial benefit, your renewable energy systems can also increase running efficiency and reduce your home’s carbon emissions. For example, a GSHP has a generating efficiency of between 400% and 500% in comparison to a traditional boiler, which operates at just 90% efficiency.

Remote Control

A Nibe heat pump system gives homeowners even greater control of their comfort zones with the use of Uplink™. This remote system lets you control your heat pump from wherever in the world you may be. It allows you to manage and monitor your heating and hot water provisions via smart technology on a phone, PC or tablet, so you can optimise your energy consumption and lower your costs, and in turn create the perfect indoor climate. For more information, visit nibe.co.uk.